When it comes to plumbing, many things can go wrong. Some plumbing issues are very easy to repair, while others can become quite a bit more difficult. Regardless of the difficulty, a good amount of plumbing knowledge is needed to ensure that repairs are done correctly and efficiently.

If you discover a pipe has frozen, open a tap on the line to allow the thawing ice to drain. This will relive some of the pressure, and could prevent cracks from appearing.

Avoid bleach tablets, blue toilet deodorizers or the other odor removers inside your toilet. These may deodorize, but they can seriously damage the rubber pieces in the toilet, causing poor functionality or even complete breakdown of the fixture.

Don’t pour cooking grease, leftover frying fat or any oils down your sink drain. These materials may be liquid when you pour them in, but they will solidify and cause problems. As an owner of a garbage disposal, this is important because the blades will stop working if they have fat on them. See to it that you dispose the oils away from your sink.

If your home runs on well water and you notice any orange or pink stains in your fixtures or tub, this is because of iron in your water. You should purchase a water softener to use, or ask a local business to make a visit to your residence and resolve the issue for you.

Use lots of cold water when you run your garbage disposal. Cold water helps the blades stay sharp and keeps the disposal running smoothly. Hot water can liquify grease and cause it to collect in the drain, and that can clog the pipes.

Save money by getting better shower heads. Most of the hot water we use is in the shower. A single energy efficient shower head can save you $100 a year.

If there is unwanted water draining into the dishwasher, it is most likely because of the hose to the kitchen sink being installed improperly. A hose that is properly installed should lead uphill, then downhill, to discourage water from each area from mixing.

To limit toilet problems, don’t use it as a trash can. Never flush paper towels, tissue, diapers, or tampons. These things do not break up correctly and can clog your pipes. Additionally, use the minimum amount of toilet paper required to clean up after you are done.

Taking preventative measures means you will not have to spend as much on plumbing repairs. Drain clogs are probably the most frequent issue you will run into with your plumbing. Hair is a common material in drain clogs. Stop the clog by covering your drains with screens to keep hair from going into the pipes. You can remove hair much easier from a screen as opposed to getting it out of the inside of a pipe.

As you know, plumbing can have lots of different things go wrong with it. By applying the helpful advice of this article, hopefully you will be successful in dealing with whatever plumbing problems arise in your future.